Subhashitams on Power
This theme brings together 28 subhashitams from 6 sources.
Latest update: Oct 12, 2026
देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
नारी त्रैलोक्यजननी नारी त्रैलोक्यरूपिणी। नारी त्रिभुवनाधारा नारी शक्तिस्वरूपिणी॥
nārī trailokyajananī nārī trailokyarūpiṇī । nārī tribhuvanādhārā nārī śaktisvarūpiṇī ॥
A tribute to woman as mother, expression, foundation, and living embodiment of Shakti across the three worlds.
यावच्चतस्रः प्रदिशश्चक्षुर्यावत् समश्नुते। तावत् समैत्विन्द्रियं मयि तद्धस्तिवर्चसम्॥
yāvac catasraḥ pradiśaś cakṣur yāvat samaśnute । tāvat samaitv indriyaṃ mayi tad dhastivarcasam ॥
A Vedic prayer from the Atharvaveda seeking expansive prosperity, alert vision, and radiant strength in harmony with nature.
धूमायन्ते व्यपेतानि ज्वलन्ति सहितानि च। धृतराष्ट्रोल्मुकानीव ज्ञातयो भरतर्षभ॥
dhūmāyante vyapetāni jvalanti sahitāni ca । dhṛtarāṣṭrolmukānīva jñātayo bharatarṣabha ॥
Vidura Niti uses the image of scattered and united firebrands to show how collective strength turns latent energy into visible power.
एवं परस्परापेक्षा शक्तिशक्तिमतोः स्थिता। न शिवेन विना शक्तिर्न शक्त्या विना शिवः॥
evaṁ parasparāpekṣā śaktiśaktimatoḥ sthitā । na śivena vinā śaktirna śaktyā vinā śivaḥ ॥
Power and capability are mutually dependent — just as Shiva and Shakti cannot exist without each other, strength and ability together make creation, progress, and success possible.
अग्निर्मूर्धा दिवः ककुत्पतिः पृथिव्या अयम्। अपां रेतांसि जिन्वति॥
agnirmūrdhā divaḥ kakutpatiḥ pṛthivyā ayam । apāṁ retāṁsi jinvati ॥
A Vedic mantra describing Agni as the supreme head of the heavens and the vital force that awakens energy within matter.
उदीर्णमनसो योधा वाहनानि च भारत। यस्यां भवन्ति सेनायां ध्रुवं तस्यां जयं वदेत्॥
udīrṇamanaso yodhā vāhanāni ca bhārata । yasyāṁ bhavanti senāyāṁ dhruvaṁ tasyāṁ jayaṁ vadet ॥
A powerful verse from the Mahabharata highlighting that motivated soldiers and superior resources are the true guarantors of victory.
देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatam idaṁ jagad ātmaśaktyā niśśeṣa-devagaṇa-śakti-samūha-mūrtyā । tām ambikām akhila-deva-maharṣi-pūjyāṁ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A powerful invocation from the Devi Mahatmyam saluting the Divine Mother who pervades the universe and embodies the collective strength of all creative forces.
व्युच्छन्ती हि रश्मिभिर्विश्वमाभासि रोचनम्। ता त्वामुषर्वसूयवो गीर्भिः कण्वा अहूषत॥
vyucchantī hi raśmibhir viśvam ābhāsi rocanam । tā tvām uṣar vasūyavo gīrbhiḥ kaṇvā ahūṣata ॥
A Vedic tribute to the Dawn (Usha), representing the power of women whose knowledge and virtues illuminate the world and dispel the darkness of ignorance.
सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि। सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥
siddhagandharvayakṣādyairasurairamarairapi । sevyamānā sadā bhūyāt siddhidā siddhidāyinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Navadurga, who bestows all spiritual powers and perfections.
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः। महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥
śvete vṛṣe samārūḍhā śvetāmbaradharā śuciḥ । mahāgaurī śubhaṁ dadyān mahādevapramodadā ॥
A prayer to Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of Navadurga, who embodies purity and serenity.
वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणा। वर्धन्मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥
vāmapādollasallohalatākaṇṭakabhūṣaṇā । vardhanmūrdhadhvajā kṛṣṇā kālarātrirbhayaṅkarī ॥
A powerful verse from the Navadurga Stotram describing the fierce and magnificent form of Maa Kalaratri, the destroyer of darkness and fear.
चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना। कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
candrahāsojjvalakarā śārdūlavaravāhanā । kātyāyanī śubhaṁ dadyād devī dānavaghātinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Katyayani, who shines with the divine sword Chandrahāsa, seeking her blessings for auspiciousness and victory over obstacles.
सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया। शुभदाऽस्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥
siṁhāsanagatā nityaṁ padmāśritakaradvayā । śubhadā’stu sadā devī skandamātā yaśasvinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Skandamata, the fifth form of Durga worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri, who symbolizes maternal love and protection.
सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च। दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदाऽस्तु मे॥
surāsampūrṇakalaśaṃ rudhirāplutameva ca । dadhānā hastapadmābhyāṃ kūṣmāṇḍā śubhadā'stu me ॥
A prayer to Goddess Kushmanda, the creative energy of the universe, who holds the nectar of life and blesses her devotees with well-being.
पिण्डजप्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
piṇḍajapravarārūḍhā caṇḍakopāstrakairyutā । prasādaṁ tanute mahyaṁ candraghaṇṭeti viśrutā ॥
A prayer to Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga, who rides a lion and brings peace and serenity.
दधाना करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालाकमण्डलू। देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
dadhānā karapadmābhyām akṣamālā-kamaṇḍalū । devī prasīdatu mayi brahmacāriṇy-anuttamā ॥
A deep prayer to Brahmacharini, the second form of Goddess Durga worshipped on the second day of Navratri, who symbolizes penance, purity, and spiritual discipline.
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
vande vāñchitalābhāya candrārdhakṛtaśekharām । vṛṣārūḍhāṃ śūladharāṃ śailaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm ॥
This verse is a devotional salutation to Goddess Shailaputri, the first of the nine forms of Durga worshipped during Navratri, who fulfills wishes, bears the crescent moon, rides a bull, and wields a trident.
एकेनापि हि शूरेण पादाक्रान्तं महीतलम्। क्रियते भास्करेणेव स्फारस्फुरिततेजसा॥
ekenāpi hi śūreṇa pādākrāntaṃ mahītalam । kriyate bhāskareṇeva sphārasphuritetejasā ॥
A single brave person can conquer the entire earth by the force of their valor, just as the sun alone illuminates the whole world with its brilliant radiance.
एकोऽपि सिंहः साहस्रं यूथं मथ्नाति दन्तिनाम्। तस्मात् सिंहमिवोदारमात्मानं वीक्ष्य सम्पतेत्॥
eko'pi siṁhaḥ sāhasraṁ yūthaṁ mathnāti dantinām । tasmāt siṁham ivodāram ātmānaṁ vīkṣya sampatet ॥
Just as a single lion can overcome a thousand elephants, inner strength and determination can overcome any obstacle.
यार्णवेऽधि सलिलमग्र आसीद्यां मायाभिरन्वचरन्मनीषिणः। यस्या हृदयं परमे व्योमन्त्सत्येनावृतममृतं पृथिव्याः। सा नो भूमिस्त्विषिं बलं राष्ट्रे दधातूत्तमे॥
yārṇave’dhi salilam agra āsīd yāṁ māyābhir anvacaran manīṣiṇaḥ । yasyā hṛdayaṁ parame vyoman tsatyenāvṛtam amṛtaṁ pṛthivyāḥ । sā no bhūmis tviṣiṁ balaṁ rāṣṭre dadhātūttame ॥
A profound Vedic prayer from the Prithvi Sukta, invoking the Earth’s blessings for the strength, energy, and prosperity of the nation.
न हि शौर्यात्परं किञ्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते। शूरः सर्वं पालयति सर्वं शूरे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
na hi śauryāt paraṃ kiñcit triṣu lokeṣu vidyate । śūraḥ sarvaṃ pālayati sarvaṃ śūre pratiṣṭhitam ॥
This verse emphasizes that bravery is the most transcendent element in the three worlds, serving as the fundamental force that protects and sustains all worldly dignity and duty.
एको बहूनामसि मन्य ईडिता विशं विशं युद्धाय सं शिशाधि। अकृत्तरुक्त्वया युजा वयं द्युमन्तं घोषं विजयाय कृण्मसि॥
eko bahūnāmasi manya īḍitā viśaṃ viśaṃ yuddhāya saṃ śiśādhi । akṛttaruk tvayā yujā vayaṃ dyumantaṃ ghoṣaṃ vijayāya kṛṇmasi ॥
An invocation from the Manyu Sukta calls for disciplined martial energy, collective courage, and honorable victory under wise direction.
अस्माकमिन्द्रः समृतेषु ध्वजेष्वस्माकं या इषवस्ता जयन्तु। अस्माकं वीरा उत्तरे भवन्त्वस्माँ उ देवा अवता हवेषु॥
asmākam indraḥ samṛteṣu dhvajeṣv asmākaṁ yā iṣavas tā jayantu । asmākaṁ vīrā uttare bhavantv asmā̃ u devā avatā haveṣu ॥
A Vedic prayer invokes Indra for courage in conflict, protection of the community, and victory beneath its uplifted banners.
वनानि दहतो वह्नेः सखा भवति मारुतः। स एव दीपनाशाय कृशे कस्यास्ति सौहृदम्॥
vanāni dahato vahneḥ sakhā bhavati mārutaḥ । sa eva dīpanāśāya kṛśe kasyāsti sauhṛdam ॥
Winds aid a forest fire but extinguish a small lamp. A powerful metaphor on how the world respects strength and unity, while the weak are often left unsupported.
सामर्थ्यमूलं स्वातन्त्र्यं श्रममूलं च वैभवम्। न्यायमूलं सुराज्यं स्यात् सङ्घमूलं महाबलम्॥
sāmarthyamūlaṁ svātantryaṁ śramamūlaṁ ca vaibhavam । nyāyamūlaṁ surājyaṁ syāt saṅghamūlaṁ mahābalaṁ ॥
Strength supports independence, effort creates prosperity, justice sustains good governance, and organized unity becomes collective power.
अल्पानामपि वस्तूनां संहतिः कार्यसाधिका। तृणैर्गुणत्वमापन्नैर्बध्यन्ते मत्तदन्तिनः॥
alpanām api vastūnāṁ saṃhatiḥ kārya-sādhikā । tṛṇair guṇatvam āpannair badhyante mattadantinaḥ ॥
Small and fragile things, when carefully joined, can accomplish great work—just as a rope of grass can restrain an elephant.